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Tekumel: Empire of the Petal Throne

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Welcome to Tekumel

Tekumel is a fantasy world created by M.A.R. Barker and first published by TSR Hobbies in 1975. It was the first complete RPG setting published. Instead of the typical medieval fantasy setting based on European mythology, Tekumel is based on the mythologies of India, the Middle East, and Mezo-America. It features large political empires that have existed for millennia, similar to Ancient Rome or China, numerous non-human races, horrific creatures, active gods, powerful magic, intrigue inside of intrigue, rigid social strata, and ancient advanced technology.

A brief history

The world of Tékumel, Nu Ophiuchi d (a.k.a. Sinistra d a real star), was first settled by humans exploring the galaxy about 60,000 years in the future, along with several other alien species. Their extensive terraforming of the inhospitable environment, including changing the planet's orbit and rotation rate to create a 365.25-day year, disrupted local ecologies and banished most of the local flora and fauna (including some intelligent species) to small reservations in the corners of their own world, resulting in a golden age of technology and prosperity for humankind and its allies. Tékumel became a resort world, where the wealthy from a thousand other stars could while away their time next to its warm seas.

Suddenly, and for reasons unknown, Tékumel and its star system (Tékumel's two moons, Gayél and Káshi, its sun, Tuléng, and four other planets, Ülétl, Riruchél, Shíchel, and Zirúna) was cast out of our reality into a "pocket dimension" (known as a béthorm in Tsolyáni), in which there were no other star systems. One hypothesis is that this isolation happened through hostile action on the part of an unknown party or group. Another is that the cosmic cataclysm was due to over-use of a faster than light drive which warped the fabric of space. No one knows, but the inhabitants of Tékumel, both human, native, and representatives of the other starfaring races, were now isolated and alone.

Severed from vital interplanetary trade routes (Tékumel is a world very poor in heavy metals) and in the midst of a massive gravitic upheaval due to the lines of gravitational force between the stars being suddenly cut, civilization was thrown into chaos. The intelligent native species, the Hlüss and the Ssú, broke free from their reservations and wars as destructive as the massive geographic changes ravaged the planet. Several other significant changes took place due to the crisis: mankind discovered it could now tap into ultraplanar energies that were seen as magical forces, the stars were gone from the sky, dimensional nexi were uncovered and pacts with "demons" (inhabitants of dimensions near in n-dimensional space to Tékumel's pocket dimension) were made and a complex pantheon of "Gods" (powerful extra-dimensional or multi-dimensional alien beings) discovered. Science began to stagnate until ultimately knowledge became grounded in traditions handed down from generations long ago, the belief that the universe was ultimately understandable slowly faded, and a Time of Darkness descended over the planet.

Much of Barker's writing concerns a time approximately 50,000 years after Tékumel has entered its pocket dimension. Five vast tradition-oriented civilizations occupy a large portion of the northern continent. These five human empires, along with various non-human allies who are descended from other star faring races, vie to control resources, including other planar "magical powers" and ancient technology, as they vie for survival and supremacy among themselves as well as hostile and other non-human races.

Much of the gaming materials and other writings focus particularly on these Five Empires which control much of the world's northern continent (only about an eighth of the planet's surface has published maps).

The Five Empires

Main Setting of Tekumel

Tsolyanu (Second Imperium or the Empire of the Petal Throne) - Bureaucratic (everything and everyone is classified), xenophobic, decadent and claim to be the heir to previous empires. They love the stake, duels, and the arena. Byzantine OttomanMughal-India Mandarins. Default homeland.

Mu'ugalavya (the Red Hats) - Methodical, militaristic, unimaginative; the Romans (or British Empire) of the setting. Tend to attack first and ask questions later. Traditional enemy of Tsoylanu.
Livyanu (i.e. shadow people) - The Egyptian super secret types (think Thulsa Doom). Ruled by hidden priests and who knows just what they keep in their temples.

Salarvya - The fifth of the great empires, Salarvyyá, lies along the long southeastern coast. Seven great feudal dynasties rule Salarvyyá, their land farmed by lesser clans in a complex system of feifs, feudal duties, and reciprocal responsibilities. Each of the seven families holds one or more monopoly: the Chruggilléshmu family of Tsatsayágga has charge of the sea and shipping along the southern coast and also holds the reins of the central government; the Hrüchcháqsha family of Chamé'el has a monopoly upon the Vrélq, the crustacean which produces the black dye used for clothing and dyeing armour; etc.

Yan Kor - Matriarchical city states, currently ruled by an ex-mercenary who was betrayed by Tsolyanu who later killed his lady love. Phoenician Scythian Greeks. The traditional bad guys in the RPGs.

Livyánu The society of Livyánu is completely dominated by the priesthoods of their Shadow Gods-civil, military and religious affairs are handled by functionaries detached from temple service. The details of their system are not revealed to outsiders, and many Circle memberships are deliberately concealed. As far as is known, the highest official is one Ásqar Gyardánaz, 'Principal Staff of the Glory of Qame'él', who presides over the central Council of the Priesthoods.

Also buffer states between Yan Kor and Tsoylanu, disorganized democratic desert tribes, hill tribes (like Thracians), puritanical lizard tamers, and a nation of tall and hairy northern barbarian types.

Tekumel Religion

The religious systems of the Five Empires are based on two 'alignments' (Stability and Change), each represented in the Engsvanyáli pantheon by five major 'Gods' (Stability: the Tlomitlányal; Change: the Tlokiriqáluyal) and five 'Cohorts' (the Hlimékluyal).

For detailed information see:

Gods of Tekumel
The Gods, Cohorts, and Divine Intervention
The Gods of Tekumel w/ detailed breakdown of specific gods.

Tekumel Track at U*Con

Don't forget to check out the tekumel gaming track at U*Con Gaming Convention November 21-23, 2008 Ann Arbor, MI

Tekumel in the Blogosphere

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Tekumel on Amazon

Tekumel YouTube

Empire of the Petal Throne Tekumel RPG Review Part 1: by Samwise7RPG | video info

7 ratings | 374 views

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Visit the World of Tekumel

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Tekumel: Empire of the Petal Throne

Welcome to Tekumel

Contents at a Glance

Contents at a Glance

The Tekumel Milieu

A brief history

The Five Empires

Main Setting of Tekumel

Tekumel Religion

Tekumel Track at U*Con

Tekumel in the Blogosphere

Tekumel on Amazon

Tekumel YouTube

Visit the World of Tekumel

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Thoughts, Comments, Ruminations

by Darana

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